Wizards
Multiple executives who spoke with ESPN’s Tim Bontemps praised the Washington Wizards for their moves at the trade deadline, including the acquisitions of veterans Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, as well as taking a chance on 2024 first-round pick AJ Johnson.
“I like what they are doing,” one executive said. “They’re doing things the right way.”
Washington had a nice win in Detroit on Thursday night, showing that the addition of veterans is helping with the younger guys. Middleton and Smart reportedly have been fantastic in the locker room, offering the type of leadership the Wizards sought.
Nets
The Nets are projected to have significantly more cap space than any other NBA team this offseason, with the potential to open up more than $60 million in room. However, Brooklyn is not expected to follow the same strategy as last year’s top cap-space team — the 76ers, who made substantial investments in win-now free agents.
As Brian Windhorst of ESPN notes, the Nets have indicated through the reacquisition of their 2025 and 2026 first-round draft picks that a longer-term rebuild may be in the cards.
Rival teams have speculated that Brooklyn could choose to roll much of its 2025 cap space into the 2026 offseason, with Windhorst reporting that the team’s cap flexibility might be utilized in trades rather than free-agent signings.
“They’re going to use it in trade because they’re not going to have anyone to pay in this free agent market,” one executive told ESPN. “They could end up right back in this spot next year.”
76ers
While the 76ers are optimistic that better health will lead to a bounce-back season, there is still no update on Joel Embiid‘s treatment plan, and no guarantees he will return to full health in 2025-26, as reported by Windhorst and Bontemps.
“Until they know what is happening with Embiid, there is no way to project what they will be next year,” a league executive told ESPN. “They will have a hard time changing that roster.”
The #Cavs survived another grind it out game against a tough Memphis team that came to play. #LetEmKnow
"Teams get up to play against us."
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— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) March 15, 2025
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